More Seniors Living Longer, But More Are Obese: Report

More seniors are living longer lives, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health.

The new report on older Americans shows that there will be almost 20 percent of people age 65 and older by 2030 -- about 72 million people. In 2010, people ages 65 and older made up 13 percent of the population, or about 40 million people.

However, in addition to the number of people living longer, the percentage of seniors who are obese is also rising. The government researchers reported that 38 percent of people ages 65 and older were considered obese from 2009 to 2010, while the number of obese seniors from 1988 to 1994 was 22 percent.

The researchers found that obesity in older women particularly has not increased over the last 10 years, though obesity has increased in the last decade in older men.

Also in the report, researchers found that 11 percent met fitness guidelines for aerobic and strengthening exercises.

Air quality is also improving for older Americans, with 36 percent living with poor air quality in 2010, compared with 64 percent in 2000.

In addition, the report showed that more seniors are using hospice care during their last month of life, with 43 percent using it in 2009, compared with 19 percent in 1999.